Stocks and shares ISA - should I take the plunge?

[elliott]

I have been severely put off investing in equities by my bad timing in the past (basically took out ISAs at the top of the 1999/2000 bubble and I don't think they are worth what I paid for them still!!)
however I am aware I should be saving for the longer term (university expenses primarily, as well as for possible future house moves) and wonder if its time to save in equities again. Feeling a bit of a numpty so not sure where to start tbh. Or whether/how to move my previous ISAs.
Where on earth to start? Or should I just keep saving in low risk cash options and accept I'm never going to accumulate much in the way of saved wealth?

[SomeGuy]

The 2000 bubble wasn't that bad, unless you were poorly diversified.

The FTSE seems quite high atm, I'm waiting for a fall to invest some more.

I don't think you can go too far wrong with a diversified portfolio of bonds, shares and corporate property. There are 'absolute return' funds as well, which are quite interesting if you are risk adverse.

Hargreaves Lansdown market a selection of funds that they recommend: www.h-l.co.uk/funds/Mark-Dampiers-Wealth-150

Be aware that they do add things hastily sometimes, so would look for a record of performance over time.

Take for instance:

www.h-l.co.uk/funds/fund_performance/sedol/3303126

add in the 'UT UK Equity Income' sector, and you will see there is a good record for that fund against its benchmark.

www.h-l.co.uk/funds/security_details/sedol/0479019 is a Financial fund that I bought prior to the credit crunch, and through good management it has actually gone UP 22% in that time.

[Whippet]

mumadoo
Do you work for/ own www.investment-advice-online.com by any chance?

You have posted on multiple threads today about how wonderful it is...

It's all a bit obvious IMHO.

Did you know that advertisers have to pay a fee?

[mumadoo]

actually Whippet no i don't.

I had just used it recently and found it really useful and so I thought I would post it on the investment threads where I thought it might be helpful to others.

Nice to know there's are trusting nature amongst fellow Mums though.... perhaps you should spend more time caring for your children than taking on a self appointed vetting role for new mums on mumsnet

perhaps you should keep your "humble opinion" to yourself in future

[Whippet]

So as a new poster you felt the need to post the link to this website on 13 (many old) threads all within the 'Investment' topic as your first ever post?

No other posts.
No other topics.

Sorry. Don't buy it.

(P.S. Crap site anyway folks - I did check!)

[mumadoo]

you despicable woman

I never said i felt the need, merely that i wanted to try and help out. And investing is something I had done recently and so something I decided to post in relation to!

Just because you have been on here for 10 years does not give you the right to be rude. I wouldn't take it upon myself to trawl through your posts and try and discredit you.

I hope the other mothers can see through your distasteful and unhelpful comments. I'm sure with your long track record you must have a reputation on this site for being an annoying busy body.

Cyber bullying is something, as a mother, I feel we should be trying to prevent, but here you are making me feel like a second class user of this site!

[Whippet]

OK - another question...

Is it a sheer coincidence then that this website is described as a 'new service' and has very recently set up a Facebook page?

I can recommend a very good marketing consultant in Chichester if you'd like?